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Controversy Erupts as Bouchard Slashes Hintz in Same Spot that Kept Him Out of Game 3

Originally posted on Blade of Steel | By Tom Banks | Last updated May 27, 2025 9:29 PM ET

Roope Hintz missed Game 3 after taking a slash from Darnell Nurse, and early in Game 4, Evan Bouchard wasted no time in targeting his injured foot in a move that has stirred up plenty of anger and controversy on social media.

Game 4 between the Edmonton Oilers and Dallas Stars is critical for both teams, and given how physical and intense this series has been thus far, it's safe to say that whoever moves onto the Stanley Cup Finals will have earned it.

Through three games, this series has been incredibly fierce, with Game 2 seeing veteran Roope Hintz go down following a slash from Darnell Nuse that saw him miss the 6-1 defeat the team suffered in Game 3 in Edmonton.

However, he's back now, taking his place in the Stars lineup for Game 4, and early on, the Oilers wanted to show their dominance, and they did so as Evan Bouchard decided to slash that exact same spot on his body.

Unsurprisingly, this stirred up plenty of controversy online, with fans not too thrilled at the Oilers tactics in this one, but as they look to get a physical advantage over their opponents as they aim to take a 3-1 lead in the series before we shift back to Dallas for Game 5.

At this point in time, someone in Dallas may need to step up and take a penalty to get the physical advantage over the Oilers, who have thus far dominated them in this series, because if they continue to allow the more talented team to treat them like this physically, this series may be all but over.

This article first appeared on Blade of Steel and was syndicated with permission.

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